Mergers and Acquisitions Associate

M&A Associate – Move from fDD into Deal Execution

Are you an ACA-qualified accountant with 1–2 years’ post-qualified experience in a Big 4 Financial Due Diligence team? This is a rare opportunity to move from analysing transactions to helping lead them, joining a high-growth, entrepreneurial M&A advisory platform with an exceptional mid-market franchise across the UK and Europe.

You will work alongside highly regarded senior dealmakers on live buy-side and sell-side mandates, advising ambitious corporates, private equity-backed businesses and growth companies across sectors including Consumer, Retail, Industrials and Technology. With a strong pipeline and continued expansion, this is an opportunity to gain meaningful exposure, responsibility and progression from day one.

The Opportunity

This is not a role where you are confined to one technical workstream. You will gain broad, hands‑on exposure across the full transaction lifecycle; from initial ideas and origination through to execution and completion.

• Work on high-profile mid-market M&A, capital markets and debt advisory assignments across the UK and Europe.
• Analyse businesses, financial performance, markets and transaction dynamics to develop a clear investment and strategic rationale.
• Prepare business cases, assess the merits and risks of potential transactions, and contribute directly to senior-level client discussions.
• Support the preparation of high-quality marketing materials, investor presentations, transaction announcements and offering documentation.
• Conduct detailed due diligence and work closely with management teams, investors, lawyers, accountants and other advisers throughout live processes.
• Coordinate critical deal workstreams across multiple concurrent mandates, developing the judgement and commercial perspective required of a rounded M&A adviser.
• Learn from an experienced, collaborative senior team with a reputation for delivering outstanding outcomes for clients.

Why make the move?

For an fDD professional, this is a compelling next step: you retain the financial rigour and analytical strengths you have developed in the Big 4, while moving materially closer to the strategic, commercial and client-facing heart of a transaction.

You will benefit from:

• True deal ownership: Exposure beyond diligence into valuation, positioning, buyer/investor engagement, negotiation support and execution.
• Earlier responsibility: A leaner, more entrepreneurial environment where strong performers can make a visible contribution quickly.
• Exceptional transaction exposure: A sustained pipeline of live mandates, rather than purely project-based diligence work.
• International reach: The backing, network and cross-border opportunities of a business with offices throughout the UK and Europe.
• A steep development curve: Work directly with senior advisers and gain the technical, commercial and interpersonal skills needed to build a long-term M&A career.
• A platform for progression: Join a growing advisory firm at a point where ambition, initiative and quality of execution are genuinely recognised.

What we are looking for

• ACA-qualified accountant.
• Ideally 1–2 years’ post-qualified experience within a Big 4 Transaction Services / financial Due Diligence practice.
• Strong financial analysis, accounting and commercial judgement.
• A genuine motivation to transition into front-line M&A advisory and work across the full deal process.
• Excellent written, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Intellectual curiosity, attention to detail and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment.
• The confidence to manage multiple priorities while working effectively with colleagues, clients and external advisers.